title: Quantitative estimation of sodium, potassium and total protein in saliva of diabetic smokers and nonsmokers: A novel study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the difference in sodium, potassium, total protein in whole saliva in diabetic smokers, diabetic nonsmokers and healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonstimulated saliva samples were collected from a group of diabetic smokers, diabetic nonsmokers, and controls. Supernatant after centrifugation was used to determine the levels of sodium, potassium, and total protein by using semiautomatic analyzer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There exists a statistical difference in the levels of potassium and total protein between diabetic smokers, nondiabetic smokers, and controls. Difference in the levels of sodium is only significant with nondiabetic smokers and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetes mellitus is known to alter the composition of saliva. The purpose of this study was to estimate and compare the levels of salivary potassium, sodium, and total protein in smoker diabetic patients and nondiabetic smokers and controls, and to explore potential of salivary electrolytes [Na+, K+] and total proteins as markers. The estimated values of salivary constituents add to the data already recorded in Indian population. However, further studies using large samples are required to evaluate the findings in our study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology and Oral Biology, Al-jabal Al-gharbi University, Gharian, Libya.
authors.forename: Basavaraj
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kallapur
authors.forename: Karthikeyan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ramalingam
authors.lastname: Bastian
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mujib
authors.forename: Amitabha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Sathya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sethuraman
keywords: Diabetes; potassium; saliva; smoking; total protein